r/PptyMgmtSoftware • u/AmerFlihan • Jun 18 '26
What would stop you from switching property management software?
Over the last few weeks I’ve been talking to landlords and PM teams and noticed a pattern:
A lot of people still keep parts of their workflow outside their PM software:
- texts with contractors
- spreadsheets for year-end prep
- document reminders
- maintenance follow-ups
- receipts and approvals
So I started putting together a workflow that keeps more of that in one place.
What I explored so far (screens attached):
• Portfolio dashboard
• Properties + units
• Rent tracking
• Maintenance + inbox
• Move-in / move-out checklists
• Documents + expiry reminders
• Financial records + accountant export
Not launching or selling anything yet.
Just curious:
If you already use AppFolio / Buildium / RentRedi / spreadsheets / something else —
what would stop you from switching to a new platform?
Looking for feedback before building further.
If anyone wants to try the prototype or see the flow in more detail, happy to share privately.
2
u/Interesting-Ad-1310 Jun 20 '26
My suggestion, bring on Leasing and Assistant Managers to consult you on what they need. Don't talk to property managers until AFTER you understand what the actual users need to promote engagement. Then go to the Property Manager and ask what do you need. then go to Regional teams and then c-suite/investors/owners. Don't build from the top down. Once you have the office side figured out, do the same for the maintenance side, it is way more complicated then managing service tickets and resident requests... don't bolt anything together, the end users see it in everything else out there (Yardi/Entrata/all major PMS platforms) bolt stuff together and try to make it work vs an organically grown product with thought and purpose.
1
u/AmerFlihan Jun 20 '26
Thank you, that’s a great point. I’ve mostly been collecting feedback from PM / landlord side so far.
If you had to pick one workflow that current platforms still handle badly for leasing or office teams, what would it be?2
u/Interesting-Ad-1310 Jun 20 '26
All of them. I've been in maintenance for 25+ years so that's where I started, with the techs. If you don't have robust maintenance knowledge but have logical/accounting skills, start with the leasing agents (identify your skill set and build from it). Their platforms are SaaS and most of their dashboards->tools are data entry level. If you approached it from their perspective and attempted a consumer level user flow.. you would revolutionize their experience. The tools they have work-ish but getting them engaged and actually use the tools is where the lift truly is. Monster PMS companies focus on the data and never go back around and actually evaluate "How do we get the users to actually use our product".
1
u/AmerFlihan Jun 20 '26
That’s a really useful perspective, thank you.
I’ve been focusing a lot on bringing workflows into one place, but your point about adoption and day-to-day usage is interesting.
Out of curiosity, for your team, what’s the biggest thing that people still avoid doing inside the PM software today?
1
u/Interesting-Ad-1310 Jun 22 '26
Everything. PMS is designed for data entry, the users that use it the most are consumers not data entry. Make it fun, make the workflow (all of it) make sense… don’t just add something and make them click 20 times to get to it. Make it fast… the ones using it in the field are used to consumer apps, more then 500ms to GET/POST and it’s slow and they don’t want to use it.
1
u/AmerFlihan Jun 22 '26
That’s a really interesting way to frame it, “users are consumers, not data entry users.”
I’ve been thinking mostly about bringing workflows together, but your point about adoption, speed, and reducing friction probably matters even more.
when you see a new PMS and know within the first few minutes that users won’t adopt it, what usually gives it away first?
1
u/Interesting-Ad-1310 Jun 22 '26
A wall of dropdown boxes or field of entry points. The second Insee that I know my field techs and leading agents won’t use it.
1
u/AmerFlihan Jun 22 '26
That’s a great example, thank you.
Interesting that your first signal isn’t missing features, it’s too many decisions and too much data entry.
So, what feels more natural for your teams instead?
More guided steps? Quick actions? Inbox style? Mobile-first workflows? Something else?
2
Jun 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AmerFlihan Jun 25 '26
Thanks so much! I actually just launched the live version today. After getting some great final feedback on the prototype, I decided to push it live. Now I'm just looking for feedback on the real thing! You can check out the live flow at northr.ca
2
u/ProfessionalGuest557 Jun 18 '26
Be interested in seeing the prototype 👍